You Can Call Me Izzy

Let me introduce you to Isobel...you can call her Izzy for short. Isn't she cute? She is the first block from the TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS Block of the Month that I started last summer that I've actually finished and got the fabric borders on. I was searching yesterday thru my stash for fabric to use for the borders and came across this bundle of Moda's "Summer's Basket of Flowers", which I thought would go perfectly with the blocks. So, I washed and dried them all up and since they were out I decided to cut into them and start the borders.

Each block finished with the 4 borders finishes up to be 16-1/2 X 18-1/2 so with making 9 blocks for the front, this will make a nice size top. I'm not making it for anyone in particular right now but my daughter Sarah just loves their striped stockings so you never know...Sarah might just be the recipient of this one in the end.

Now to get moving on the other 8 blocks....

Tomatoes

Has anyone used one of these hanging tomatoe gadgets? I'm not a gardener at all but I wanted some home grown tomatoes this year so I went to Home Depot a few weeks ago and got this. The plant has gotten huge since I put it in but no buds yet. I think it might be because I bought Jersey tomatoe plants, which I think don't really start till August but I'm hoping I get something.....

Another challenge top finished too. Back in April I think one of the bloggers did a stimulus where she quilted any top for $25 plus shipping and handling. It really got me to moving along on this top because I wanted to bind it and have it ready when the addition was done. I'd like to give the builder and his wife just a little thank you gift. I got the binding on in 2 nights in front of the tv...which if anyone knows me, knows this is lightening speed. I hate doing the binding and label but when under the gun, I git er done! The top is made up of all 6.5 inch sampler blocks that I had laying around the house. The background is all Kona white. I had a ton of strips cut from another project so the piano key border worked out wonderful on it.

I'm thrilled to have it done early so I don't have to scurry around either next week or the week after.

2 Posts in One Day

2 posts in one day, and on a Thursday no less....that is totally unheard of!

So, after dinner, I finished the project I'd shown the sneak peek of in the earlier post today. It's one of my challenge projects. I started this "Sangria Splash" table topper at least 3 years ago.

The fabrics are gorgeous and it's going to look great on my dining room table. I took a picture of it on the coffee table because the lighting is better in the family room.

Have you seen these ruler holders? I finally found one last week at the quilt shop and I LOVE how it has organized my rulers all in one place.

So, now what do I start working on?

Peggy

Lotsa Things Goin On

Lotsa things going on around here.....We're heading into the home stretch on the addition. Next Monday starts the sanding and staining of the hard wood floors so with a LOT of luck and the construction inspector gets here, we can have Jen in her apt. by July 7th...YAY. The sun came out this afternoon....YAY....and I had a vacation day today to do with what I wanted.

I started out the morning my mailing a birthday present to Robin and a little something to Michelle, did some banking, and then took a quick trip to Quilting Possibilities... I needed a quilt shop fix, besides, I had a gift card from Mother's Day that was burning a hole in my pocket. I found some fruit ladies fabric for one of the girls I work with. I bought the end of the bolt which amounted to just about 1 yard. I got my last kit for the All Roads Lead to the Sea quilt, 3 fat zippers to make some zippit bags and the floral fabric is already quilted and it's for a tote. Then I found a mint green with white dots and a white with mint green dot for an old project I'd like to work on. Robin is a little nervous that I'm turning into a fru fru girly girl but I'm not....I still love my Thimbleberries but it's summertime (at least that's what the calendar keeps saying) and in the summertime I like to work with some fru fru fabrics....

Then, I went and got my nails done (OK Robin so I am turning into a girly girl, who cares LOL) and then came home and worked on one of my BPF UFO Challenge Projects. Here's a quick peek at it.... I need to finish the binding and then I'll show a full picture of the finished project.

I will have some pictures of the addition after tomorrow.

The builder will be here at the crack of dawn to do more so I'll take some pictures later tomorrow. Most of today's stuff was leaders, gutters, air conditioning unit etc.....

Peggy

Month 5

Oops....guess I got my months out of order on this BOM. Regardless, I'm up to date and that's all that matters.

And here's a sneak peek at one of the embroidery projects I've been doing at night while I watch TV.

It's one of the Cinderberries Girls....

Off to See the Wizard

I've had a charm pack of Wizard of Oz fabrics that I bought specifically to make a table topper for my daughter's apartment. Since she'll be moving in in 2 weeks I thought I better get started on it today. I cut the charms, sewed them up, added 2 simple borders and then even quilted and machine bound it....All ready and waiting for her move. I'm sorta in a state of shock that I finished something BEFORE it was needed...

Month 6

I only had the TB BOM kit for a week or so, so I'm feeling quite good that it's finished and will be set aside for finishing later in the year.

And the answer to the question I KNOW you are all wondering is YES...it is still raining here in NJ. I'll have to start back on the ark...

Peggy

The Ark

If any of you live on the east coast I KNOW you can sympathize with me when I say that instead of making quilts, I should be building PEGGY'S ARK....We have had more rain this month than I can remember in a long time. I now know how people in Seattle must feel...it's been quite a depressing week....

I wanted to show you some blocks I received yesterday from a block swap on Pat Sloan's site.

It was a Mad Hatter Tea Cup Swap.

Pat posted a pattern for a teacup and you had to send in 6 blocks using "fun" fabrics. I used fabric that looked like puzzle pieces. I thought they came out really cute so I was really looking forward to seeing what I got back. I was not disappointed yesterday when I opened my envelope and these cuties were inside . The girls all used fun fabrics for their teacups and also for their handles. Now to figure out what I'll do with them.

I'm also in another Yahoo group with girls that I've known for a lot of years. We each have a birthday month where each girl gets to pick a block and fabric and you get one block from each person.

This year I thought I'd pick a 4 inch paper pieced pinwheel block to use with other 30's blocks I've collected over the years. I don't have all my blocks yet since I requested 2 from each girl but I'm almost done....

Some girls are not comfortable doing paper piecing so they sent blocks in different patterns and sizes, but I like each one and they'll all go nicely with the blocks I've been collecting.

Sweet Gatherings

I'm doing an embroidery block of the month with Stitch N Tyme quilt shop in Missouri which happens to be owned by a friend, Deb Smith and her mom. I don't think Deb has an online shop yet but she offered it to friends thru one of the yahoo groups that I belong to. "As the Crow Flies" is the name of the bom and for block #1 the crow is flying a kite. Isn't it cute?

I've been bitten by the embroidery bug so that I've not done any "quilting" in over a week.

Hope everyone had a nice week...this upcoming week for me will be CRAZY since it's the last week of school for our 7th and 8th graders and you know how that age kid is in school...they just want the school year to be over and summer to be started. I know I'll survive but every year I ask myself "how did I manage last year?".

Peggy

Blue Chinese Coins

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I did any kind of update to my blog. The weather here in New Jersey has been HORRIBLE. I can't remember a week when it's been so rainy. Because of that it made me feel very lazy.......ok, ok, lazier than usual LOL

I did start working with the blue/white/yellow fabric last Saturday and last time I showed a picture, it was just piles. Here's what I did with all those piles:

I absolutely love that chinese coins pattern!!

I unfortunately, did not have enough of either of the fabrics I wanted to use for the final border so I cut the strips and connected them and came up with a half and half kinda border. What do you think? I like it personally.....the whole top is scrappy so why shouldn't the border kinda be scrappy too? Now to go to the quilt shop and get a backing for it so I can get this one quilted lickety split.....

Now....what should I work on????

Peggy

Here's How We Look Right Now

On Sunday, April 26 I posted about our addition, which at the time had just begun....Well, here's what the outside looks like now. I can't wait for the day I can rip the labels off and we can put the furniture in the rooms.

This indoor picture was taken with my back to the big sunburst window in the front of the house. This room will be the bedroom and the boxes on the left are outside the bathroom. The remainder of the addition will be a living room.

It has all the electric, heat, AC and insulation so all that's left is the sheetrock, hanging the light fixtures and flooring.

Peg

Starting Something New

I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be starting something new, I'm supposed to be working on my BPF UFO Challenge List but heck...I couldn't resist this pile of blue, white, yellow fabrics that my friend Laura sent me a while back.... I'd sent Laura a bunch of bright chinese coin strips and as a thank you I got a beautiful collection of Eleanor Burns fabrics. I added some strips from my stash yesterday and this is what I have laying on the sewing table waiting for assembly.....check back later in the weekend and I might just have something to show you :)

I also have been getting in some blocks from a birthday block swap I've been doing for a million years. This year I asked for some small 30's blocks. I haven't gotten all 14 from the girls but I do have a few.... I don't have anything in particular in mind for these blocks but I do have a lot of assorted sized 30's blocks laying around that I could make another sampler with them....

Heading out to Home Depot soon with hubby for some pet screen to make a few of those handy dandy zippy bags for quilt projects and also we need a few things for the house construction.

I'll post a picture or two later on of the progress... We're hoping to get Jen in her apt. by this time in June...lets all send some positive energy in the direction of the builder...

Peggy

Another Finish

YEY......another finish!!! I showed a picture of the Chinese Coins quilt a while back but never had it quilted or bound...well, here it is in all it's glory, all finished and ready to be given to my daughter's godchild Ariana. Only thing is, Ariana's 3rd BD isn't until October so I haveto put it away and save it till then.

I found some purple Laurel Burch flannel fabric in the sale room at the local quilt shop that I bought for the backing and used the leftovers for the binding. I think it's going to be something Ariana will LOVE.

Peggy

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to everyone out there.....

Lets try to celebrate the day and remember the reason we are celebrating! Thank you to all servicemen who gave their lives so we can live in our country.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party Block Swap

I haven't done a block swap in it seems like forever but could NOT pass up the Mad Hatter swap which is posted over on Pat Sloan's swap site. I am a big fan of teacups and teapots so this was right up my alley, especially since it's only 6 blocks. Here's my first block totally done with teabag and steam...

PEGGY

Zippadee Doo Dah

Hello all....

It sure has been hazy, hot and humid here in NJ but having AC helps a LOT!!!

Yes, retreat was very eventful with Conni losing her car to the tornado and me losing use of my machine but I bought a cute little Janome DC2010 which sews like a charm! Bernina is still at the shop being looked at but hopefully this week I'll hear on how it's doing.

I was in the middle of doing a buttonhole/blanket stitch on my Christmas table runner to try and get a jump on holiday projects when the tornado hit so now I'm in a holding pattern on it...Robin and Michelle finished theirs so with luck before the summer's end I get mine done.

I did however work on a few things...one of which was a ginormous tote bag. The pattern was in the Mc Calls Quilting magazine last month and after seeing Michelle's done in Zippadee Doo Dah fabric I just knew I had to do mine in the same fabric....

It calls for 2 charm packs and a yard and a half of fabric for the lining. One of the new retreaters was making some of those little basket bags as seen on Pink Penguin's blog so since I had leftover charms I made myself one...

I gave Lori who sat next to me some charms and the blue print fabric as well so we made matching baskets. I'd brought a huge bag of scraps to share with the girls that had to fly out so I think all in all about 12 baskets were made thruout the one day. Every one was different but oh so cute!!!

Then I did the quilting and binding on a table runner that I'd made a few weeks back so now I have a nice patriotic runner on my coffee table, just in time for Memorial Day Weekend...

I also worked on a table runner kit that Robin had made up for Michelle and I. It's called OH CHERRY OH, and Robin found the instructions on the Moda Bake Shop site. I got the whole thing assembled but have yet to sandwich and quilt it. That is a priority for over the next week or so....

I did a little stitchery work too on a Halloweenie/Thanksgiving table runner so once I get that further along, I'll take a picture to share.

All in all, retreat was the best one I've ever been too...I hope we'll all be able to get together again next year, if not at Camp Camby in Indiana, then somewhere....

Peggy

Honey, I'm home!

Yes, we are home from retreat. The drive to Indiana did not seem as long this year but as predicted, the drive home DID seem as long :) I guess knowing that the retreat girls were not at the end of the trip made it seem long and sad.

I did not take as many pictures as I should have because of all the commotion with the tornado blowing thru and both my car having downed power lines rest on it with the tippy top of the downed tree that fell on Conni's car on top and then when the tornado hit it caused a power surge which affected my sewing machine so I had nothing to sew with from DAY 1! I had to call hubby from outside the Avon, IN Quiltery and tell him I had to go inside and purchase a new machine so I didn't have to sit around twiddling my thumbs for 4 days....

Michelle, on the other hand, took LOTS O PICTURES....go on over to her blog and check em out if you want to see some doozies.

I'll be back later in the weekend with a few pictures of projects I finished and am working on...

Hope everyone has a nice Memorial Day Weekend..... woo hoo for a 3 day weekend!!!

Peggy

On the Road Again...

I just wanted to tell you girls that I will be on the road again in the morning (Tuesday) and heading to Indiana for my annual quilt retreat. Robin and I expect to leave NJ by 6am and with no problems, arrive at the Indianapolis Airport by 8PM at the latest. We allow ourselves lunch, dinner and multiple gas and bathroom breaks throughout the trip. We will be meeting Michelle at the Indianapolis Holiday Inn Express at the airport and then Wednesday we will head to the retreat site around noon. Hope you all have a nice week and with luck I come home with some pictures to share.

Peggy

Good Thing

Good thing I'm going to a retreat next week, I'll finally be able to get some sewing done.

Since construction started on the house and my machine was moved out of my room, I haven't sat at it once. Tonight I decided I'd better clean it up and make sure it was in good running order. I didn't want to make anything big so I picked a birthday block for one of my online groups. It's a My Blue Heaven (from Quilters Cache) block done in Thimbleberries.

The block turned out nice and the machine works good.... If I had more energy, I'd whip up a few more, unfortunately, I've been on the move since my feet hit the floor this morning so I'm beat. I need a cuppa tea and my feet up!

Happy Birthday Jen

Today my oldest daughter is 25! It feels like just yesterday when I held that little thing in my arms, but here she is with my son (23) all grown up and beautiful!!!

Happy Birthday Jen!!!

We went to CHEVY's for Mexican food for dinner and celebrated...she wouldn't let the staff put a sombrero on her head or sing to her but she did accept the free birthday ice cream :)

Hotter......Hotter than hades....

It has been hotter, hotter than hades here the past 3 days and I am not happy about it....(1) I am not a very good "hot weather person" and (2) it is way too soon for this heat!!! The only good thing about the weather is that the builder has had all of his crews out working. We already have a roof and the addition's attic has a floor....I'm amazed at what's gotten finished since Wednesday.

And, there is a countdown going on in the house.....I am driving the morning of May 12th from my house in NJ to Indiana with Robin and meeting up with Michelle and a few other gals from our online quilting group....When I realized that it was 2 weeks from today I got sorta giddy....just the thought of sewing, talking, eating, and more sewing with the girls made me very happy!!! I think packing up some projects might be just the job for a hot day in NJ today......

Red, White, and Blue

I had this project pretty much cut out and since I was itching to sew on the machine I plugged it in and sewed up this table topper.... I think it took an hour total to assemble. During the week I'll sandwich it and quilt it up....

Construction

As I reported the other day, we are under construction....Here's a picture of what the house looked like this time last week.....it's a good picture of the house but it's a bad picture of what is being worked on. We are adding a small apartment over the garage on the left hand side of the house over the garage.

Here's a picture of the house today....We built the house 16 years ago and did not put a basement in so hubby didn't have anyplace to put a pool table or bar or anything....so, we made the decision back in January to "just do it"....But, as is with anything we do, nothing is "just a room"...this one has a bedroom, bathroom, 3 closets and the living room area..... Our oldest will live in it as an interim place until she can save a little for her own house. I did think that the "living room" might be a perfect place for a long arm machine someday down the road.... hmmmmm....I may have to work on that LOL.

How was the weather where you guys were? It is very hot and humid here in NJ......

Peggy

A Finish

I have to say, I haven't done much else at night this week except sit on the couch and watch tv...it was a hard going back to the grind of work this week after a wonderful week in South Carolina...thankfully it's almost over :)

We are under construction here in New Jersey and my sewing room has been the recipient of a few "oopsies" since the construction is going on over that so I have my Bernina packed up and I've had to vacate the room for about a week.....

I have however been taking this little jem with me to work and after I eat my lunch I work on it for half an hour. I finished it today and I just love how it turned out even though it's too late for this Easter I will get the border fabrics on and ready for next Easter.... In case you are wondering where I got this kit from, I bought it from Bird Brain Designs....go check them out, they have a great selection of stitcheries...

Peggy

It's Warmer in New Jersey

It's warmer in New Jersey than it was in South Carolina this week. I thought it got warmer the further south you went? Anyhoo, hubby and I had a nice relaxing time....we walked an hour every morning, we ate healthier and we just basically had a good time.

We did go to the movies one night and saw "KNOWING" with Nicolas Cage. Now, I'm not a big Nicholas Cage fan but I liked him in this movie. I would definitely recommend it to you to go see.

I hadn't sat at my machine in it felt like ages, so I pulled out a tote bag kit that I'd gotten about this time last year from Pat Sloan's site and decided it would be a good project to do.... Is this fabric not cute??? I love tote bags!!!

Here's a picture of today's next to one I made last year at retreat.....

I probably have more tote bags than any sane person really needs but Michelle teased me today with one she made yesterday from the April 2009 Mc Calls magazine....so now I want to make that one......You should check it out, it's super cute!!!

Peggy

Weight Loss Monday

We are away in Myrtle Beach so my weigh in will have to wait until next week....I've reported to Sharon.....if the rain stops tomorrow then I'll get out walking so lets keep our fingers crossed that I can lose SOMETHING this week....See you all when I return.

Peggy

Thimbleberries 2009 Club

I haven't gotten much done in the sewing room this week but I did get my March 2009 kit done so that I'm not behind when the April kit comes.....

My family celebrated Easter today since my daughter has to go back to college tomorrow.

She gets the train from RI to NJ and the only decent one back tomorrow was at 5:50 so we had a nice turkey dinner today with the family and then tomorrow hubby will make pancakes and bacon at noon for us before he heads to the train station with Sarah....

I am collecting up some stitchery projects to take to Myrtle Beach with me. I have a 6am flight Monday from Atlantic City. I'll be at the condo by 10am! Anyone out there know of a nice quilt shop in MB?

Hope you all have a nice Easter and a good week...

Peggy

Weight Loss Monday on Tuesday

A bright note for Monday was the pretty bouquet hubby brought home from the grocery store when he did the weekly food shopping.....
I have them on the kitchen counter on top of my Easter runner that Robin made me a few years ago. Aren't they a nice color purple???

A not so bright note for Monday was no weight loss! BLAH! I'm not going to beat that dead horse tonight though....

Peggy

Birthday Blocks

I belong to a Yahoo birthday group where once a month we make a block for the birthday girl.

This month we happen to have 2 girls so I decided I might as well look over their fabric that they sent in along with their block of choice.... One block went together lickety split....One, gave me fits....Can you tell which is which?

Peggy

YUP, It's Springtime on the East Coast

Yes, I think we can say it's finally springtime here on the East Coast..... My weeping willow tree has buds on it which I am sure will be in full bloom this time next week and oh yeah, in case any of you west coasters want to come east and visit, the "Naked Cowboy" is back at his post in New York City!!! I saw him at his post last Sunday.....